Sadly last weekend the studio
of noted Portland painter Michael Brophy burned. Katu
news has the story and blog
sans artifice has more details and pictures. Michael is too nice a guy to have
such terrible luck and another artist Michael Wilson was also affected by this terrible fire. Brophy was to have had 2 consecutive solo shows in December and January at Laura Russo Gallery and according to Vanessa Renwick at least some of the paintings survived. The new works were often radically different than his previous work and were some of the strongest he done to date. If any are destroyed (which seems likely) it will be a terrible loss.

We hope everyone's health and work were spared. Michael and Holly are said to be ok but shaken and staying with relatives. Brophy's studio itself was probably spared the flames but the real question is water damage as the space above was innundated first (oil paintings can survive deluge but there's all the falling debris). One cat survived and two others are presumed dead. Long time friend Paul Green described the scene as "horrible." I'll post more details as they develop, including where people can send their support and well wishes. Our thoughts are with everyone during this difficult time.

*Updates: I took at look at the site yesterday and the damage is pretty extensive and certaily a lot of ireplacable things have been lost. It is eerie how it looks like one of Mike's paintings, which have all been transferred elsewhere to assess their condition and for safer storage. Another cat has turned up so only 1 remains missing and Holly's computer, according to Randy Gragg is, "being dried out professionally." If it is just water damage a lot of the hard drive's contents should be recoverable (let's hope). A tax deductable fund through RACC has been set up to defray some of the rebuiding costs as insurance probably won't completely cover the costs.

I'm sure the Portland Art Community would like to extend its support for BOTH of the artists affected by this tragedy, to read a full account of this story please read Richard Spears article http://www.wweek.com/wwire/?p=9437

Posted by: devil-n-disguise at September 28, 2007 01:32 PM

Please read more closely, I already added that link this morning. PORT was the first high traffic site to make the artist community connection and we noted Wilson in the story from the start.

Has anyone undertaken similar funding and support steps for Michael Wilson? Maybe RACC can be persueded to expand the definitions of the fund?